During the Easter Holidays Helen Harrison, the Head of Fettes, and Nicola Pickavance, Director of Development, travelled to the USA. Their first stop was Washington DC, where they received a very warm welcome from OFs and past parents in the DC area, including several board members of Fettes’ US Charity, Friends of Fettes Inc, Rupert Hammond Chambers (JS-Gl 1979-1986), Brock Landry (Mo 1965-1966) and Nick Burnett (CE-Ar 1963-1968). This whistle stop Washington visit culminated in a happy gathering of the Fettes community, hosted by Brock and Nick at Mission Dupont. Guests were delighted to see old friends and make new ones and very much enjoyed hearing about Fettes from the Head.

The following day the Head and Nicola travelled to New York, where they were joined by Senior Master with responsibility for non-UK University applications, Richard Smith. Over the Easter break Richard visited an array of US Colleges and met several OFs studying in the US as well a number of College Admissions staff across the country to ensure Fettes ever growing number of US College applicants are well equipped to navigate the US College admissions process.  Richard joined the Head and Nicola at the Friends of Fettes Inc. AGM, during which the Trustees were updated on Fettes, the work of the Development Team and Fettes US College Admissions.  Trustees also unanimously agreed that the proceeds of their forthcoming annual appeal in the US should be directed towards 100% bursaries at Fettes College.

After the AGM, one of the Trustees, Richard Blackett (Ki 1969-1974), hosted a wonderful drinks reception for the Fettes community in his home, with his wife Marissa and son Chris. This happy event was attended by OFs from across the generations and current parents. There are currently 12 students at Fettes from the US, with five more set to join the school in September, so it was lovely that current parents were able to join this special gathering.

Finally, before travelling back to Edinburgh, the Head, Nicola and Richard were delighted to meet up with OF and current parent, Jeremy Kilpatrick (Mo 1986-1987) his wife Kelly and three children, Chloe, Caroline and Angus. Jeremy is a second generation OF and is delighted that his eldest daughter, Chloe, is now at Fettes and that Caroline, his youngest daughter, will be joining Fettes in September. This enjoyable discussion was a very fitting end to a great trip, where every encounter underlined that the Fettes community is thriving in the US and that it is indeed a family for life!